Wednesday, April 18, 2018
INTERVIEW/BLOG TOUR: Interview with Marlena Frank Author of The She-Wolf of Kanta (Interview by Cindy Hannikman)
Fantasy Book Critic is excited to welcome Marlena Frank to
our blog as she makes her way across the Blog-o-sphere on her blog tour for The
She-Wolf of Kanta. We were able to catch up with her and conduct a
brief interview about her latest book release.
A huge thank you goes out to Rockstar Book Tours for helping
organize and arrange for the interview. And a huge thank you goes out to Marlena
Frank for taking the time to stop by and talk to us about her newest release.
Learn more about The She-Wolf of Kanta:
Title: THE
SHE-WOLF OF KANTA
Author: Marlena Frank
Pub. Date: April 17, 2018
Publisher: Legion Imprint of Radiant Crown Publishing
Formats: Paperback,
eBook, audiobook
Pages: 256
"A pair of yellow eyes caught the moonlight
and locked onto hers."
Mercy has always dreamed of becoming a werewolf trapper like her father. In Kanta, one must learn how to survive one way or another. A dark-skinned, blue-eyed young beauty, Mercy understands that she brings out the beast in monsters and men. When a routine werewolf delivery turns into a vicious assault from a pair of human traffickers, Mercy’s life changes forever. Somehow she must endure in a dangerous city where women and werewolves are hunted.
Visit some of the Other Stops on the Blog Tour!
Tour
Schedule:
Week One:
4/9/2018- BookHounds- Interview
Week Two:
Interview with Marlena Frank:
1) The She-Wolf of Kanta
is a novella. What was your writing process like working on this novella? Did
you do anything to help make sure your story was well rounded yet didn't go to
500 pages.
Going into this piece, I knew what the world was like and I
knew who I wanted Mercy to be. The main trouble I had was figuring out the
beats of the plot. Unlike some novels I’ve worked on, The She-Wolf of Kanta
took years to write. I would work on it for a while, hit a wall in trying to
decide how to get from step B to step C, then walk away from it for a while.
Each time I returned to it though, I had fresh eyes and I kept streamlining it.
I didn’t realize at the beginning that it would be a novella either, I let the
story determine how long it needed to be.
2) Do you ever see
yourself revisiting this world with more novellas?
One of the most frequent questions I get about this story is
will there be a sequel. I do see myself revisiting Kanta in the future and
probably picking up where it left off. When I do return to it though I want it
to be for a good reason, so it’ll take some time to figure out. I want it to be
a proper continuation.
3) What do you think
makes your novel stand out from other werewolf novels out there?
I made a conscious effort to make the werewolves of Kanta
both fearsome and yet relatable. The fascinating part about werewolves is that
they are both humans and monsters at the same time. When you capture a werewolf
for money, you are in fact capturing another human being for profit, so using
them as metaphors for human trafficking isn’t that far of a leap. Since the
city is recovering from a terrible werewolf onslaught, many problems are blamed
on werewolves regardless of how true it is. When you have a whole city
terrified of a group, it’s easier to blame things on them.
4) Who are some of your
horror author idols?
Some of the classic horror authors I love are Stephen King,
Anne Rice, Richard Matheson, H.P. Lovecraft, Mary Shelley, and of course
Shirley Jackson. More recent horror authors that I’ve enjoyed are Josh Malerman
and Cherie Priest. One author who writes some gruesome dark fantasy that could
easily be classified as horror, and who honestly doesn’t seem to get enough
attention, is Scott Hawkins. I draw from so many styles and stories when I
write, but these are the authors I draw inspiration from again and again.
5) If you novella were
made into a movie, who would be your ultimate choice to star in your movie?
I actually thought I would have a tougher time casting
someone for this story than I did. I think Idris Elba would pull off an amazing
performance for Solomon Pinkerton, Mercy’s father. He’s a rough man, and not
very likeable, but a type of character you would find in southern gothic
stories. He loves his daughter, but he’s certainly not a kind person. There’s a
lot of room for interpretation in him that I think Elba would pull off
beautifully.
Learn more about Marlena Frank:
I write about strange creatures.
Typically they shouldn’t exist, or they have bled through from a different
reality, or they’re pretending to be a crying baby in a crib. Sometimes that
lands my stories in horror and other times in fantasy, but there’s always an
air of strangeness to my tales. If you want to get a better feel for what I’m
talking about, check out a few clips or read a few drabbles.
My work has appeared in a spattering of short story collections, but I do have a few novellas and novels in the pipeline. Other than talking about writing, I also talk about cryptozoology, werewolves, wildlife conservation, and of course kitties. I’ve also been known to nerd out about Batman and The Hobbit, and have recently discovered the cracktastic fun of Black Butler cosplay, so there will likely be more of these incidents.
By day I work as a web developer, so
I’ll occasionally talk about web issues like finding the right theme.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift
Card, International.
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Code:
12:25 AM | 
Posted by
Cindy |
Official Author Website
Order the book HERE
Read an excerpt HERE
FORMAT/INFO: Children Of Blood And Bone is 531 pages divided up into 85 chapters with an epilogue. The story is told in the first person point of view alternatively through characters Zélie, Amari, and Inan. The gorgeous cover jacket is by Rich Deas.
Children Of Blood And Bone is available in all formats with a film adaptation from Fox scheduled for production.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: There are things to love about Tomi Adeyemi’s debut novel, Children Of Blood And Bone, a book that was hyped enough to reach even those of us who do not often venture into the YA category of fantasy books. The very fact that a work so Afro-centric has received such attention is cause for much praise and stands alongside the Black Panther movie as proof that straight, white protagonists are not the standard for success. But make no mistake about Children of Blood and Bone - it is a flawed book. That doesn’t mean that this isn’t a worthwhile book, but it’s not the next Harry Potter even if it’s marketing team is desperately trying to convince everyone that it is. Rather, it is another in a long line of good YA fantasy novels that fails to ever rise above its peers.
The story of Children of Blood and Bone takes place in a mythical African nation called Orïsha, where in the not-so-distant past King Saran, a tyrant if ever there was one, put to the sword all maji of the realm and cut those with maji blood off from the source of all sorcery - in this case the gods of the land themselves. Our main character is Zélie Adebola, a white-haired, fiery young girl who once would have been a powerful maji, but who, in this harsh new world, must train herself physically with stave while brewing rebellion in her heart. Zélie is angry, justifiably so, and most of this rage is focused on an empire that stole, and murdered, her mother simply for the crime of wielding magic. It is not until we meet Amari, King Saran’s daughter and less-favored child, that we see Adeyemi’s unique method of storytelling as she weaves in a second first-person viewpoint into the narrative. If that weren’t enough, she does it again with Amari’s brother Inan, giving us three first-person points of view. I have never seen this done before, and it was completely jarring.
I respect innovation, but I think there is a reason that writers do not attempt multi-first-person narratives. When we use the word ‘I’, it is very specific to one person, and we have an entire lexicon of novels throughout history that have trained us to read books this way. I found myself confused about whose eyes I was seeing the story through at several times throughout the novel, despite the chapter headings spelling out quite clearly who was in charge of a section. Adeyemi has such short chapters that it can be easy to lose track of who is doing the thinking. Her characters are, thankfully, unique enough from one another that eventually a rhythm is established. We know if our thinker is righteous and angry that is likely Zélie, or that if it is unsure and afraid that it is Amari. We always know when it’s Inan because he never stops dreaming about Zélie. I firmly believe that had this book been in the third-person point of view, that I would have enjoyed it about twice as much, despite its other flaws. I know that young adult novels tend to use the first-person, but it is clear that Adeyemi did not want to limit herself to a single viewpoint and thought she’d found a solution. Regrettably, I don’t think it was the right one.
Zélie and Amari quite literally run into one another, and it is Amari’s theft of a precious scroll from her father, the Tyrant King himself, that leads the pair of them, along with the ever-sacrificed Tzain, Zelie’s brother, on a journey across the nation in an attempt to restore magic to the land. Zélie’s brief contact with the scroll awakens her latent magical abilities, and it is this catalyst that helps them realize what is possible - the maji can return.
Despite its flaws, there is much to praise about Children of Blood and Bone. I love Adeyemi’s magic system. She divides magic up into schools, which is by no means revolutionary, but I felt excited at the prospect of discovering each different type of power. Zélie herself is an untapped Reaper, a maji who controls the spirits of the dead and can send them against her enemies. Adeyemi’s religion is another fascinating subject and her depiction of hell as a place for people who suffer horrible deaths is both terrifying and intriguing. One of the reasons for Reapers is to find these suffering souls and bring them redemption (which often means they will be pointlessly used up in one of Zélie’s many practice sessions, begging us to ask whether or not she is redeeming anything). Other schools include the standard fire and water hurlers, one that tames animals that I would have liked to see more of, and even one that has the ability to shape metal on a whim. Each magical ability corresponds to a specific god, which is a tidy way of setting everything up.
Adeyemi’s characters are also flawed but powerful humans, full of angst and doubt and attempting to find their place in the narrative. They grow, particularly in the case of Amari, and it is a pleasure to journey with them across this Orïshan landscape, discovering ancient temples and meeting a motley crew of savory and unsavory types both. Adeyemi shows us a land like our own, but removed and somehow larger in scale. Her panthieres are like panthers, but huge. This brings me to another large critique I had with Adeyemi’s methods. In a way, this book could be categorized as an alternate history fantasy. Portugal and Spain and the United Kingdom all exist, but with garbled up names that do nothing to disguise their origin. I wanted more originality than this in a novel that is already pulling from many different sources for its overall scheme.
CONCLUSION: There is an appeal to Children Of Blood And Bone that is undeniable, from the work of art that is the cover design to a roster of characters that touch all points of humanity. There is heart to this work, and a spirit of resistance that will reach down into the rebel in all of us. But I believe that much of what is here is formulaic to the point that it feels false. Reading of Adeyemi’s seven-figure movie deal does not dispel my disappointment that this is perhaps a case of over-marketing for a series that unfortunately will not become what African fantasy lovers deserve. Children Of Blood And Bone is good, but it is not great. That said, Tomi Adeyemi is young, in her early 20s, and if this is her debut novel, there is every reason to believe that what she produces in the years to come will be phenomenal.
Order the book HERE
Read an excerpt HERE
FORMAT/INFO: Children Of Blood And Bone is 531 pages divided up into 85 chapters with an epilogue. The story is told in the first person point of view alternatively through characters Zélie, Amari, and Inan. The gorgeous cover jacket is by Rich Deas.
Children Of Blood And Bone is available in all formats with a film adaptation from Fox scheduled for production.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: There are things to love about Tomi Adeyemi’s debut novel, Children Of Blood And Bone, a book that was hyped enough to reach even those of us who do not often venture into the YA category of fantasy books. The very fact that a work so Afro-centric has received such attention is cause for much praise and stands alongside the Black Panther movie as proof that straight, white protagonists are not the standard for success. But make no mistake about Children of Blood and Bone - it is a flawed book. That doesn’t mean that this isn’t a worthwhile book, but it’s not the next Harry Potter even if it’s marketing team is desperately trying to convince everyone that it is. Rather, it is another in a long line of good YA fantasy novels that fails to ever rise above its peers.
The story of Children of Blood and Bone takes place in a mythical African nation called Orïsha, where in the not-so-distant past King Saran, a tyrant if ever there was one, put to the sword all maji of the realm and cut those with maji blood off from the source of all sorcery - in this case the gods of the land themselves. Our main character is Zélie Adebola, a white-haired, fiery young girl who once would have been a powerful maji, but who, in this harsh new world, must train herself physically with stave while brewing rebellion in her heart. Zélie is angry, justifiably so, and most of this rage is focused on an empire that stole, and murdered, her mother simply for the crime of wielding magic. It is not until we meet Amari, King Saran’s daughter and less-favored child, that we see Adeyemi’s unique method of storytelling as she weaves in a second first-person viewpoint into the narrative. If that weren’t enough, she does it again with Amari’s brother Inan, giving us three first-person points of view. I have never seen this done before, and it was completely jarring.
I respect innovation, but I think there is a reason that writers do not attempt multi-first-person narratives. When we use the word ‘I’, it is very specific to one person, and we have an entire lexicon of novels throughout history that have trained us to read books this way. I found myself confused about whose eyes I was seeing the story through at several times throughout the novel, despite the chapter headings spelling out quite clearly who was in charge of a section. Adeyemi has such short chapters that it can be easy to lose track of who is doing the thinking. Her characters are, thankfully, unique enough from one another that eventually a rhythm is established. We know if our thinker is righteous and angry that is likely Zélie, or that if it is unsure and afraid that it is Amari. We always know when it’s Inan because he never stops dreaming about Zélie. I firmly believe that had this book been in the third-person point of view, that I would have enjoyed it about twice as much, despite its other flaws. I know that young adult novels tend to use the first-person, but it is clear that Adeyemi did not want to limit herself to a single viewpoint and thought she’d found a solution. Regrettably, I don’t think it was the right one.
Zélie and Amari quite literally run into one another, and it is Amari’s theft of a precious scroll from her father, the Tyrant King himself, that leads the pair of them, along with the ever-sacrificed Tzain, Zelie’s brother, on a journey across the nation in an attempt to restore magic to the land. Zélie’s brief contact with the scroll awakens her latent magical abilities, and it is this catalyst that helps them realize what is possible - the maji can return.
Despite its flaws, there is much to praise about Children of Blood and Bone. I love Adeyemi’s magic system. She divides magic up into schools, which is by no means revolutionary, but I felt excited at the prospect of discovering each different type of power. Zélie herself is an untapped Reaper, a maji who controls the spirits of the dead and can send them against her enemies. Adeyemi’s religion is another fascinating subject and her depiction of hell as a place for people who suffer horrible deaths is both terrifying and intriguing. One of the reasons for Reapers is to find these suffering souls and bring them redemption (which often means they will be pointlessly used up in one of Zélie’s many practice sessions, begging us to ask whether or not she is redeeming anything). Other schools include the standard fire and water hurlers, one that tames animals that I would have liked to see more of, and even one that has the ability to shape metal on a whim. Each magical ability corresponds to a specific god, which is a tidy way of setting everything up.
Adeyemi’s characters are also flawed but powerful humans, full of angst and doubt and attempting to find their place in the narrative. They grow, particularly in the case of Amari, and it is a pleasure to journey with them across this Orïshan landscape, discovering ancient temples and meeting a motley crew of savory and unsavory types both. Adeyemi shows us a land like our own, but removed and somehow larger in scale. Her panthieres are like panthers, but huge. This brings me to another large critique I had with Adeyemi’s methods. In a way, this book could be categorized as an alternate history fantasy. Portugal and Spain and the United Kingdom all exist, but with garbled up names that do nothing to disguise their origin. I wanted more originality than this in a novel that is already pulling from many different sources for its overall scheme.
CONCLUSION: There is an appeal to Children Of Blood And Bone that is undeniable, from the work of art that is the cover design to a roster of characters that touch all points of humanity. There is heart to this work, and a spirit of resistance that will reach down into the rebel in all of us. But I believe that much of what is here is formulaic to the point that it feels false. Reading of Adeyemi’s seven-figure movie deal does not dispel my disappointment that this is perhaps a case of over-marketing for a series that unfortunately will not become what African fantasy lovers deserve. Children Of Blood And Bone is good, but it is not great. That said, Tomi Adeyemi is young, in her early 20s, and if this is her debut novel, there is every reason to believe that what she produces in the years to come will be phenomenal.
Saturday, April 14, 2018
AUTONOMOUS BY ANDY MARINO BLOG TOUR: Review of Autonomous by Andy Marino (Reviewed by Cindy Hannikman)
Fantasy Book Critic is excited to be the final stop on the Autonomous Blog Tour. For this stop of the blog tour, I will be reviewing this YA sci-fi/thriller novel. It is a combination of contemporary fiction, sci-fi, and adventure (think Fast and Furious). A huge thank you to Disney Publishing for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to be a part of this blog tour.
OVERVIEW: William Mackler is about to go on a road trip of a lifetime. After winning a contest—and nearly dying in the process—he becomes the proud owner of Autonomous, a driverless car that knows where you want to go before you do. #Worthit! To sweeten the deal he gets to pick three friends to go with him on a cross-country trip to see their favorite band. For William, a reckless adrenaline junkie, this is the perfect last hurrah before he and his friends go their separate ways after graduation. But Autonomous is more than just a car without a steering wheel. It's capable of downloading all of the passengers’ digital history—from the good, to the bad, to the humiliating. The information is customized into an itinerary that will expose a few well-kept secrets, but it will also force William to face some inner demons of his own. Think you know Autonomous? The real question is, how much does Autonomous know about you?
AUTONOMOUS by Andy Marino combines social media stakes with jaw-dropping, high-tech action for a road trip saga like no other. The Fast and the Furious meets Stephen King’s Christine in this YA novel about a group of friends and a cutting-edge driverless car (OTTO) that taps into their online profiles, unlocking deep secrets that put the entire group in danger.
FORMAT: Autonomous is a contemporary YA thriller with sci-fi and futuristic elements to it. It stands at 368 pages and was published April 3, 2018 by Freeform.
ANALYSIS:
Sometimes in the YA genre you have to be willing to take
risks. This means stepping outside of the standard format and trying something
new. That is exactly what happens in Autonomous.
Andy Marino takes a different approach to YA writing. Readers
are given four main characters but unlike some novels where all the characters'
personalities and background is laid out in the first few chapters, Autonomous
takes you on a very slow journey where you are constantly learning about the
characters from the first few pages to the last page.
This unique approach to writing has a very disorienting feel
at first because, as a reader, you want to know what is going on and you want
to feel connected, but you don't – at least not at first. While reading
Autonomous, I kept thinking "does this writing style work? Would it work
for other novels" and the answer is "yes it works for this novel, but
not every novel would benefit".
The slow approach to character development works for
Autonomous because the main focus of the novel is sitting back and watching as
OTTO (the automated car) grows and develops as he learns more about the four
teens that are travelling with him. If readers knew everything up front, the
novel wouldn't feel the same and would honestly feel very flat.
In addition to the unique writing style, Autonomous does an
amazing job at showcasing some very 'edge of your seat' car chases and races.
There were a number of scenes that involved OTTO and our main characters
playing in a Grand Theft Auto type real world game. I confess, I found these
scenes the most interesting. While I can't say whether they were absolutely
necessary to the plot of the book, they were fun to read and brought a certain
level of action/adventure to the novel.
While Autonomous was an interesting read, it wasn't without
its flaws. One of the biggest teasers in the book was the unveiling of each of
the characters secrets. I was invested in knowing the characters' secrets, but
when the secrets were unveiled they were sadly disappointing. They had the
potential to be ground-breaking but between the way the other characters
reacted and the faster pace of the novel, it just seemed like they were just
disappointing.
Another issue I had was I felt there was a big build up to
watching as OTTO developed as a character. Unfortunately, this didn't really
happen until the last few chapters. Maybe I misunderstood the novel, but I
really expected OTTO to play a bigger role and again I was left a bit
disappointed by it.
Even though I had a few disappointments, I don't think
Autonomous was bad. I believe for the right reader who is looking to adventure
into novels that aren't written in a cookie-cutter style, especially those in
the target demographic of approximately 13 to 16, it would be an interesting
novel. I do think that adult readers, who have read numerous sci-fi, horror or
thriller novels, would find numerous problems with the novel. So, would I
recommend it? Yes if you were in the target reader group, but if it sounds like
something you've read before, I would say skip it.
Order The Neon Boneyard HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Long Way Down
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The White Gold Score
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Redemption Song
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Living End
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of A Plain-Dealing Villain
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Killing Floor Blues
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Castle Doctrine
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Double Or NothingRead Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Castle Doctrine
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Sworn To The Night
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Winter's Reach
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Instruments Of Control
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Harmony Black
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Red Knight Falling
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Glass Predator
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Cold Spectrum
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Cold Spectrum
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Harmony Black Series Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Double Or Nothing Cover Reveal Mini-Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part I of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part II of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read My Sworn To The Night Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read Part I of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part II of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read My Sworn To The Night Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Craig Schaefer was born in Chicago and wanted to be a writer since a very young age. His writing was inspired by Elmore Leonard, Richard Stark, Clive Barker & H. P. Lovecraft. After reaching his 40th birthday he decided to give in to his passion and since then has released twelve novels in the last three years. He currently lives in North Carolina and loves visiting museums and libraries for inspiration.
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: Daniel Faust has clawed his way from the gutter to a penthouse suite, carving a bloody swath across the Las Vegas underworld. He's buried his enemies and more than a few friends along the way. If there's one thing a modern-day sorcerer knows for certain, though, it's that the past never stays buried forever.
Now he's running on ice, juggling his responsibilities as a mob boss with his dubious "gift" of a knighthood in the courts of hell, defending territory in two worlds at once. It's a bad time for unfinished business to come back and haunt him, forcing him to confront his tortured history and the family he left behind. An even worse time for his surviving foes to join forces and take deadly aim at Faust's throne.
Toss in a syndicate operative from a parallel world, a deranged half-demon assassin hungry for a duel, and the shadowy machinations of the King of Worms, and the stage is set for a showdown under the neon lights of Vegas. Vultures are circling, and only the magician with the quickest wits -- and the fastest trigger-finger -- will survive..
FORMAT/INFO: The Neon Boneyard is 305 pages long divided over forty-two chapters with a prologue, epilogue, “The Story So Far…” section & an afterword. Narration is in the first-person, via Daniel Faust solely for all the chapters and different third-person narratives for the prologue and epilogue. This is the eighth volume of The Daniel Faust series.
April 10, 2018 will mark the North American e-book publication of The Neon Boneyard and it was self-published by the author. Cover art and design is by James T. Egan of Bookfly Design.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: This is the second book in the third arc of the Daniel Faust series and is set immediately afterwards the events of Double Or Nothing (possibly within 24 hours of the climax). We meet Daniel after the hectic events in the Low Liminal and while he has a reason for being happy. The call from the Mayor's office has him unsettled as the message concerns the King of the Worms and that's not something that one avoids. Faced with the sudden arrival of a new batch of Ink, Faust and the new Commission also have to figure out who's the Ink dealer in town. On the good news front, with his ascension in Prince Sitri's court, he has newer, nicer (?) things to look forward to.
But since this is Daniel Faust’s life, things never go as planned. With the Enemy possibly joining hands with The Network, Faust is looking at a dual front offensive attack. Things are looking dire when he finds out that there are two different folks hunting him for his status and his actions. Plus his past comes back in to the picture in more ways than one and I believe the author is laying down the roots for some crucial drama down the line. All in all this is another action-packed episode but there are bigger things afoot and Faust will have to use his powers and crafty intellect to survive it all. There are three main queries he wants answers to:
- How Howard Canton figures into the Enemy's plans,
- How to get the "Thief" status off his back,
- Figuring out the Network's grand designs.
Plots within plots, machinations behind machinations, things are never straightforward and this ahead in the series, we are getting some terrific hints about the eventual series endgame.
The author has started a "what has come before" section from this book and it's a smart move considering this is the eighth volume of the series and there's a LOT that has happened before. On an average, Craig Schaefer has about three plot occurring concurrently in each book, so you can see how useful this recap will be for most readers. Beginning with why I loved this book, first of all, I have to say kudos to James T. Egan & Craig Schaefer for that amazeballs cover. It manages to combine an electric colour pattern and some terrific noir touches to make this cover possibly the best of the series (so far). Considering how strikingly good the cover art for the preceding titles has been, it’s to James’ credit to conjure something to trump everything that has come before.
The characterization has always been a highlight and over here we get a focus on some other characters. Particularly this book ties into the events of the short story DRIVE (read it for FREE on the author’s site) and we get a very big pointer about whether Faust might be getting an apprentice. There's also a resolution to a very peculiar mini-mystery surrounding certain events from book 6 involving Kirimara. But in true Craig Schaefer fashion, the answer provided leads to bigger questions and I for one am looking for more clarity in this matter as it involves my favorite character Baron Naavarasi (besides Faust).
Here are some of the things which the author had previously mentioned would be occurring in this volume:
(1) This book will mark the first appearance of Daniel's family since the mention about his abusive father and his younger brother in The Long Way Down (book 1) & within his past recollections. [Source: Fantasy Book Critic interview Part I, see Q5]
(2) This book will deal with the King Of The Worms & potentially the other Kings [Source: The ending of Double Or Nothing]
(3) This book will be set before the events of Sworn To The Night [Source: Fantasy Hive Interview with Craig Schaefer, see Q6]
(4) This book will also mark the return of Nicky & the twins (Justine & Juliette) & Freddie Vinter makes a trip to Sin City [Source: Craig's blog post]
With regards to points (1) & (2), they power the main plot and then lead to further twists within the story. With this volume set before the events of Sworn To The Night (3), we get a whole new view about the Lady In Red's actions and I can't wait to see what she and her coven manage to do in Detonation Boulevard (Wisdom's Grave trilogy book 2) and how Daniel figures into it. Lastly with (4), we get to see Nicky and the Twins return and again there are possible ramifications for the future. The Twins have always been a source of danger and are hilarious to read about, over here we get a small encore about this insane aspect. The series is now in the midst of a lot of plots mixing in from the other series books and yet the author manages to keep it simple. As has been the case with the preceding Faust titles, the plots twists are varied, the pace is top notch and the characterization rich as ever. Lastly I have to mention the creepy horror aspect which is again upped a notch with a scene featuring cockroaches. If you are dislike cockroaches, then be prepared to experience a small dose of katsaridaphobia.
This isn't a book which you can jump in and read because of all the events that have come before. You will have to read the preceding seven titles to get an idea of the massive scope of the plot within. There's a long game at work as longtime readers of Schaefer's work have noticed previously. This book is another top notch entry that will entertain the Faust fans, and keep them hungry for more answers. However keep in mind that this is going to be the only Daniel Faust title this year with the author's plan to finish the Wisdom's Grave trilogy so fans should certainly savor it. The Wisdom's Grave trilogy is chronologically set after The Neon Boneyard so we will be getting to view the aftereffects of this volume and the tussle between the Witches coven and the Alien Kings.
Negative points about the book are next to none in my view but I'm sure there will some whom might feel a bit underwhelmed by certain plot events. There’s also the introduction of a character in this book (Read Q. 5 in this interview to get an idea) which is certainly going to get the fans in a tizzy but it remains only an introduction and some might want to know more.
CONCLUSION: The Neon Boneyard is certainly another ace from Craig Schaefer. As an urban fantasy fan, I can certainly say that this series is seriously the best that the sub-genre has to offer. It even outshines the Dresden Files because of its ingenuity in mixing so many genres within the story, rich characterization and an insane overall plot that will only leave you dumbfounded as to why you didn’t discover Craig Schaefer earlier.
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: Daniel Faust has clawed his way from the gutter to a penthouse suite, carving a bloody swath across the Las Vegas underworld. He's buried his enemies and more than a few friends along the way. If there's one thing a modern-day sorcerer knows for certain, though, it's that the past never stays buried forever.
Now he's running on ice, juggling his responsibilities as a mob boss with his dubious "gift" of a knighthood in the courts of hell, defending territory in two worlds at once. It's a bad time for unfinished business to come back and haunt him, forcing him to confront his tortured history and the family he left behind. An even worse time for his surviving foes to join forces and take deadly aim at Faust's throne.
Toss in a syndicate operative from a parallel world, a deranged half-demon assassin hungry for a duel, and the shadowy machinations of the King of Worms, and the stage is set for a showdown under the neon lights of Vegas. Vultures are circling, and only the magician with the quickest wits -- and the fastest trigger-finger -- will survive..
FORMAT/INFO: The Neon Boneyard is 305 pages long divided over forty-two chapters with a prologue, epilogue, “The Story So Far…” section & an afterword. Narration is in the first-person, via Daniel Faust solely for all the chapters and different third-person narratives for the prologue and epilogue. This is the eighth volume of The Daniel Faust series.
April 10, 2018 will mark the North American e-book publication of The Neon Boneyard and it was self-published by the author. Cover art and design is by James T. Egan of Bookfly Design.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: This is the second book in the third arc of the Daniel Faust series and is set immediately afterwards the events of Double Or Nothing (possibly within 24 hours of the climax). We meet Daniel after the hectic events in the Low Liminal and while he has a reason for being happy. The call from the Mayor's office has him unsettled as the message concerns the King of the Worms and that's not something that one avoids. Faced with the sudden arrival of a new batch of Ink, Faust and the new Commission also have to figure out who's the Ink dealer in town. On the good news front, with his ascension in Prince Sitri's court, he has newer, nicer (?) things to look forward to.
But since this is Daniel Faust’s life, things never go as planned. With the Enemy possibly joining hands with The Network, Faust is looking at a dual front offensive attack. Things are looking dire when he finds out that there are two different folks hunting him for his status and his actions. Plus his past comes back in to the picture in more ways than one and I believe the author is laying down the roots for some crucial drama down the line. All in all this is another action-packed episode but there are bigger things afoot and Faust will have to use his powers and crafty intellect to survive it all. There are three main queries he wants answers to:
- How Howard Canton figures into the Enemy's plans,
- How to get the "Thief" status off his back,
- Figuring out the Network's grand designs.
Plots within plots, machinations behind machinations, things are never straightforward and this ahead in the series, we are getting some terrific hints about the eventual series endgame.
The author has started a "what has come before" section from this book and it's a smart move considering this is the eighth volume of the series and there's a LOT that has happened before. On an average, Craig Schaefer has about three plot occurring concurrently in each book, so you can see how useful this recap will be for most readers. Beginning with why I loved this book, first of all, I have to say kudos to James T. Egan & Craig Schaefer for that amazeballs cover. It manages to combine an electric colour pattern and some terrific noir touches to make this cover possibly the best of the series (so far). Considering how strikingly good the cover art for the preceding titles has been, it’s to James’ credit to conjure something to trump everything that has come before.
The characterization has always been a highlight and over here we get a focus on some other characters. Particularly this book ties into the events of the short story DRIVE (read it for FREE on the author’s site) and we get a very big pointer about whether Faust might be getting an apprentice. There's also a resolution to a very peculiar mini-mystery surrounding certain events from book 6 involving Kirimara. But in true Craig Schaefer fashion, the answer provided leads to bigger questions and I for one am looking for more clarity in this matter as it involves my favorite character Baron Naavarasi (besides Faust).
Here are some of the things which the author had previously mentioned would be occurring in this volume:
(1) This book will mark the first appearance of Daniel's family since the mention about his abusive father and his younger brother in The Long Way Down (book 1) & within his past recollections. [Source: Fantasy Book Critic interview Part I, see Q5]
(2) This book will deal with the King Of The Worms & potentially the other Kings [Source: The ending of Double Or Nothing]
(3) This book will be set before the events of Sworn To The Night [Source: Fantasy Hive Interview with Craig Schaefer, see Q6]
(4) This book will also mark the return of Nicky & the twins (Justine & Juliette) & Freddie Vinter makes a trip to Sin City [Source: Craig's blog post]
With regards to points (1) & (2), they power the main plot and then lead to further twists within the story. With this volume set before the events of Sworn To The Night (3), we get a whole new view about the Lady In Red's actions and I can't wait to see what she and her coven manage to do in Detonation Boulevard (Wisdom's Grave trilogy book 2) and how Daniel figures into it. Lastly with (4), we get to see Nicky and the Twins return and again there are possible ramifications for the future. The Twins have always been a source of danger and are hilarious to read about, over here we get a small encore about this insane aspect. The series is now in the midst of a lot of plots mixing in from the other series books and yet the author manages to keep it simple. As has been the case with the preceding Faust titles, the plots twists are varied, the pace is top notch and the characterization rich as ever. Lastly I have to mention the creepy horror aspect which is again upped a notch with a scene featuring cockroaches. If you are dislike cockroaches, then be prepared to experience a small dose of katsaridaphobia.
This isn't a book which you can jump in and read because of all the events that have come before. You will have to read the preceding seven titles to get an idea of the massive scope of the plot within. There's a long game at work as longtime readers of Schaefer's work have noticed previously. This book is another top notch entry that will entertain the Faust fans, and keep them hungry for more answers. However keep in mind that this is going to be the only Daniel Faust title this year with the author's plan to finish the Wisdom's Grave trilogy so fans should certainly savor it. The Wisdom's Grave trilogy is chronologically set after The Neon Boneyard so we will be getting to view the aftereffects of this volume and the tussle between the Witches coven and the Alien Kings.
Negative points about the book are next to none in my view but I'm sure there will some whom might feel a bit underwhelmed by certain plot events. There’s also the introduction of a character in this book (Read Q. 5 in this interview to get an idea) which is certainly going to get the fans in a tizzy but it remains only an introduction and some might want to know more.
CONCLUSION: The Neon Boneyard is certainly another ace from Craig Schaefer. As an urban fantasy fan, I can certainly say that this series is seriously the best that the sub-genre has to offer. It even outshines the Dresden Files because of its ingenuity in mixing so many genres within the story, rich characterization and an insane overall plot that will only leave you dumbfounded as to why you didn’t discover Craig Schaefer earlier.
Official Author Website
Order The Night Dahlia HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Six-Gun Tarot
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Shotgun Arcana
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Nightwise
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Brotherhood Of The Wheel
Read The Route To Golgotha by R. S. Belcher (Guest Post)
R.S. Belcher is a favorite of Cindy and mine over here at Fantasy Book Critic. With his Golgotha books, Rod manages to mix in a crazy mix of genres combined with epic characterization. Today with the release of his newest book The Night Dahlia, R. S. Belcher stops by to talk about his newest series and the characters within.
Q] Welcome to Fantasy Book Critic Rod, you have been a particular favorite of ours since Cindy & I read and enjoyed Six Gun Tarot. Could you please introduce yourself, tell us what inspired you to write in the first place, and describe your journey to becoming a published author.
RSB: Thanks so much for interviewing me on your site. I've been writing for a living for 17 years, writing as a journalist in 2001. I sold my first major fiction piece, a Star Trek story to Simon and Schuster, in 2006. My first novel, the Six-Gun Tarot, was purchased by Tor Books in 2010, and released in early 2013. Since then, I haven't looked back. I've enjoyed writing since I was a kid and wrote for many years just for pleasure. I can't believe how fortunate I am to do something I love so much for a living.
Q] For someone who hasn't read any of your novels, how would you describe the type of stories that you write? What would be your elevator pitch for the Nightwise Series, The Brotherhood of The Wheel series, & the Golgotha saga?
RSB: The Nightwise series is a NC-17 Noir Fantasy, darker and more cynical than a lot of Urban Fantasy with a protagonist that is more villain than hero. He moves through a dark, dangerous, and erotic occult underworld that exists just out of sight of our modern world.
The Brotherhood of the Wheel series is Southern-fried Urban Fantasy, mixed with horror and urban myth. It's a world where a secret society of truckers, bikers, and others who live and work on the highways of America protect the unwary from the supernatural and real-world horrors that exist just beyond your headlights.
The Golgotha series is historical fantasy, a genre mash-up of Weird Western, Horror, and Steampunk set in the town of Golgotha, Nevada where supernatural forces lurk around every corner and everyone in the town has a secret.
Order The Night Dahlia HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Six-Gun Tarot
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Shotgun Arcana
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Nightwise
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Brotherhood Of The Wheel
Read The Route To Golgotha by R. S. Belcher (Guest Post)
R.S. Belcher is a favorite of Cindy and mine over here at Fantasy Book Critic. With his Golgotha books, Rod manages to mix in a crazy mix of genres combined with epic characterization. Today with the release of his newest book The Night Dahlia, R. S. Belcher stops by to talk about his newest series and the characters within.
Q] Welcome to Fantasy Book Critic Rod, you have been a particular favorite of ours since Cindy & I read and enjoyed Six Gun Tarot. Could you please introduce yourself, tell us what inspired you to write in the first place, and describe your journey to becoming a published author.
RSB: Thanks so much for interviewing me on your site. I've been writing for a living for 17 years, writing as a journalist in 2001. I sold my first major fiction piece, a Star Trek story to Simon and Schuster, in 2006. My first novel, the Six-Gun Tarot, was purchased by Tor Books in 2010, and released in early 2013. Since then, I haven't looked back. I've enjoyed writing since I was a kid and wrote for many years just for pleasure. I can't believe how fortunate I am to do something I love so much for a living.
Q] For someone who hasn't read any of your novels, how would you describe the type of stories that you write? What would be your elevator pitch for the Nightwise Series, The Brotherhood of The Wheel series, & the Golgotha saga?
RSB: The Nightwise series is a NC-17 Noir Fantasy, darker and more cynical than a lot of Urban Fantasy with a protagonist that is more villain than hero. He moves through a dark, dangerous, and erotic occult underworld that exists just out of sight of our modern world.
The Brotherhood of the Wheel series is Southern-fried Urban Fantasy, mixed with horror and urban myth. It's a world where a secret society of truckers, bikers, and others who live and work on the highways of America protect the unwary from the supernatural and real-world horrors that exist just beyond your headlights.
The Golgotha series is historical fantasy, a genre mash-up of Weird Western, Horror, and Steampunk set in the town of Golgotha, Nevada where supernatural forces lurk around every corner and everyone in the town has a secret.
Q] I can never gush enough about the Golgotha saga, I love its wild mix of genres, characters, mythologies and history. Can you talk about its inception and how you plan to take the series forward after the three books you have written so far?
RSB: Thank you! I loved westerns as a kid and wanted to take the traditional western genre and turn it on its head. I had the idea for about a decade before I sat down and began to write the first novel, Six-Gun-Tarot. As I write this, I'm finishing up the manuscript for the fourth Golgotha book, which has a working title of The Ghost Dance War. I have the next Golgotha book after this one plotted out as well, and I'm hoping I will get to keep working on the series for a long time. I still have a lot of Golgotha stories I hope to tell. I also hope to have some exciting Golgotha news soon, but I'm afraid it has to wait for now, though.
RSB: Thank you! I loved westerns as a kid and wanted to take the traditional western genre and turn it on its head. I had the idea for about a decade before I sat down and began to write the first novel, Six-Gun-Tarot. As I write this, I'm finishing up the manuscript for the fourth Golgotha book, which has a working title of The Ghost Dance War. I have the next Golgotha book after this one plotted out as well, and I'm hoping I will get to keep working on the series for a long time. I still have a lot of Golgotha stories I hope to tell. I also hope to have some exciting Golgotha news soon, but I'm afraid it has to wait for now, though.
Q] Let’s talk about the Nightwise world, you have some fine noir influences mixed in with intriguing horror touches. I really enjoyed both those genres. What were some of your influences in creating these books & the world within?
RSB: I'm a huge fan of detective fiction, especially Robert B. Parker's Spenser series as well as Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett's work. The inspiration for Nightwise and The Night Dahlia came from them, as well as a desire to really push the boundaries of Urban Fantasy and do some things with characters and world building that would challenge me as a writer and challenge my readers.
Q] Focusing upon Laytham Ballard. He clearly goes beyond the anti-hero trope and in his own words, he’s a villain plain and simple. What lead to his creation and what was the thought process?
RSB: The aforementioned desire to push limits led to some of the genesis of Laytham Ballard. In full disclosure I feel a lot of kinship with Ballard. He's autobiographical in some ways. I wanted a protagonist that would be hard for my readers to call a good guy, but I try to make him human enough that they recognize and maybe even empathize with his struggles. For some readers it works, for others, not so much, but I'm very proud that Ballard is a fully-realized character and I think readers will see more of his origins and his struggles in Night Dahlia and grow to like the S.O.B even more.
Q] Let’s talk about the chronological timeline of the books? Nightwise—>The Brotherhood Of The Wheel—>The Night Dahlia. Is that correct? How much time separates each title from the other?
RSB: In the new edition of Nightwise that came out in January, there is a new Ballard short story in the back, called The Wire Mother, set in the 80's, next up is the Nightwise novel, set a few years later, then Brotherhood of the Wheel takes place after Nightwise, then the Night Dahlia, out April 3rd, takes place and finally (to date), the sequel to Brotherhood, King of the Road, hits stores December 31st and takes place around a year after Brotherhood and probably around the same time as Night Dahlia. I try very hard to make each book stand-alone, so you can read one without having to read the others. That does get a bit harder the further into the series you get, but that is my goal.
Q] When you started out, did you have an overall plan for the Nightwise/BOTW series, such as a specific number of books to be written? How much of the plot do you plan out? Or to quote George R.R. Martin, “are you a Gardener or an Architect” when it comes to your writing?
RSB: I'm a mix of gardener and architect. I have found myself doing a bit more architect stuff lately as the series get a bit more complex and my speed of writing has increased, but often as I write, the story and the characters head off into some interesting places on their own that I never expected them to. I really value that organic flow of the story and the characters. It's a kind of alchemy that makes writing so much more fun. I do think it's a kind of magic and I love that aspect.
RSB: I'm a huge fan of detective fiction, especially Robert B. Parker's Spenser series as well as Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett's work. The inspiration for Nightwise and The Night Dahlia came from them, as well as a desire to really push the boundaries of Urban Fantasy and do some things with characters and world building that would challenge me as a writer and challenge my readers.
Q] Focusing upon Laytham Ballard. He clearly goes beyond the anti-hero trope and in his own words, he’s a villain plain and simple. What lead to his creation and what was the thought process?
RSB: The aforementioned desire to push limits led to some of the genesis of Laytham Ballard. In full disclosure I feel a lot of kinship with Ballard. He's autobiographical in some ways. I wanted a protagonist that would be hard for my readers to call a good guy, but I try to make him human enough that they recognize and maybe even empathize with his struggles. For some readers it works, for others, not so much, but I'm very proud that Ballard is a fully-realized character and I think readers will see more of his origins and his struggles in Night Dahlia and grow to like the S.O.B even more.
Q] Let’s talk about the chronological timeline of the books? Nightwise—>The Brotherhood Of The Wheel—>The Night Dahlia. Is that correct? How much time separates each title from the other?
RSB: In the new edition of Nightwise that came out in January, there is a new Ballard short story in the back, called The Wire Mother, set in the 80's, next up is the Nightwise novel, set a few years later, then Brotherhood of the Wheel takes place after Nightwise, then the Night Dahlia, out April 3rd, takes place and finally (to date), the sequel to Brotherhood, King of the Road, hits stores December 31st and takes place around a year after Brotherhood and probably around the same time as Night Dahlia. I try very hard to make each book stand-alone, so you can read one without having to read the others. That does get a bit harder the further into the series you get, but that is my goal.
Q] When you started out, did you have an overall plan for the Nightwise/BOTW series, such as a specific number of books to be written? How much of the plot do you plan out? Or to quote George R.R. Martin, “are you a Gardener or an Architect” when it comes to your writing?
RSB: I'm a mix of gardener and architect. I have found myself doing a bit more architect stuff lately as the series get a bit more complex and my speed of writing has increased, but often as I write, the story and the characters head off into some interesting places on their own that I never expected them to. I really value that organic flow of the story and the characters. It's a kind of alchemy that makes writing so much more fun. I do think it's a kind of magic and I love that aspect.
Q] Let’s talk about the future of the books set in the Nightwise world. Can you reveal how many books do you plan featuring Laytham & the Brotherhood?
RSB: I have some ideas for story arcs for Brotherhood and for Nightwise, along several more books. I know what I want to do for Brotherhood after King of the Road, and it's a very exciting and creepy idea. One idea I have a pretty good outline for a “cross-over” story that would be across a book in each series. I also have requests I get from readers for a few spin-off book/ series based on other characters in the series. I'm plotting out a book about the Memphis Mafia and their leader from Brotherhood of the Wheel that might make a good series of its own. At some point I think it's best to put a series to bed before the quality goes south, but right now I'd love to keep writing both series. If people enjoy the books, let my publisher know, and support them with reviews and, of course, sales.
Q] One person whom you have consistently thanked is your editor Greg Cox. Can you talk to us how instrumental he has been with your writing? Can you give us some examples?
RSB: Greg Cox is my editor at Tor Books. He purchased my first novel, the Six-Gun Tarot, and was instrumental in making it so much better than it was to begin with. Greg is an amazing and prolific author as well as being a consummate editor. He's helped me so many times, and in so many ways, to make each book better. He's patient, easygoing, but thorough and dedicated to his craft. I once had a friend and colleague of Greg's message me to basically tell me how lucky I was to have him as my editor. I wholeheartedly agreed with him. I feel very fortunate to know Greg as a friend, and to work with him professionally.
Q] Tell us a little bit about the research you undertook before attempting to write the Nightwise/BOTW books. What were the things you focused upon? Were there any fascinating things that you found amidst your research?
RSB: I love research, I'm pretty much always researching some crazy thing or another. For Brotherhood of the Wheel, I've read a fascinating book on the development of the highway system and how it relates to socio-economic development, or detriment, as well as how it influenced serial killers since the highway's inception. A ton of urban myths. Trucker tall tales, Oh, and for King of the Road I researched Juggalo mysticism, One-percent biker gang organizational charts...and killer clowns.
For Nightwise and Night Dahlia so much weird stuff, just crazy shit. Drugs, so many occult traditions and magic spells, BDSM, secret societies, the porn industry...and the evil Buddhism. Did I mention how much I love my job?
Q] In closing, do you have any last thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?
RSB: To everyone who's taken the time to read the books, support them, recommend them to friends and customers and to send me such kind messages, thank you so much. I can't even begin to find the words to tell you how much your support means to me. Thank you, I'm lucky to have readers like you.
RSB: I have some ideas for story arcs for Brotherhood and for Nightwise, along several more books. I know what I want to do for Brotherhood after King of the Road, and it's a very exciting and creepy idea. One idea I have a pretty good outline for a “cross-over” story that would be across a book in each series. I also have requests I get from readers for a few spin-off book/ series based on other characters in the series. I'm plotting out a book about the Memphis Mafia and their leader from Brotherhood of the Wheel that might make a good series of its own. At some point I think it's best to put a series to bed before the quality goes south, but right now I'd love to keep writing both series. If people enjoy the books, let my publisher know, and support them with reviews and, of course, sales.
Q] One person whom you have consistently thanked is your editor Greg Cox. Can you talk to us how instrumental he has been with your writing? Can you give us some examples?
RSB: Greg Cox is my editor at Tor Books. He purchased my first novel, the Six-Gun Tarot, and was instrumental in making it so much better than it was to begin with. Greg is an amazing and prolific author as well as being a consummate editor. He's helped me so many times, and in so many ways, to make each book better. He's patient, easygoing, but thorough and dedicated to his craft. I once had a friend and colleague of Greg's message me to basically tell me how lucky I was to have him as my editor. I wholeheartedly agreed with him. I feel very fortunate to know Greg as a friend, and to work with him professionally.
Q] Tell us a little bit about the research you undertook before attempting to write the Nightwise/BOTW books. What were the things you focused upon? Were there any fascinating things that you found amidst your research?
RSB: I love research, I'm pretty much always researching some crazy thing or another. For Brotherhood of the Wheel, I've read a fascinating book on the development of the highway system and how it relates to socio-economic development, or detriment, as well as how it influenced serial killers since the highway's inception. A ton of urban myths. Trucker tall tales, Oh, and for King of the Road I researched Juggalo mysticism, One-percent biker gang organizational charts...and killer clowns.
For Nightwise and Night Dahlia so much weird stuff, just crazy shit. Drugs, so many occult traditions and magic spells, BDSM, secret societies, the porn industry...and the evil Buddhism. Did I mention how much I love my job?
Q] In closing, do you have any last thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?
RSB: To everyone who's taken the time to read the books, support them, recommend them to friends and customers and to send me such kind messages, thank you so much. I can't even begin to find the words to tell you how much your support means to me. Thank you, I'm lucky to have readers like you.
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